Because I'm a Beatle-maniac...
February 6th, 1958
- A still 14-year-old George Harrison's first-ever appearance with The Quarrymen (incl. John and Paul) at Wilson Hall, Garston, Liverpool
- Chicago Blackhawks beat Boston 4-1 at the Gah-den, with rookie Bobby Hull scoring twice
April 1st, 1961
- The Beatles play their first night of a 13-week stay at the Top-Ten Club in Hamburg, Germany (their personal favorite of four venues they played in Hamburg)
- Detroit beats Toronto 3-2 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final; Chicago blanks Montreal 3-0 to take a three-two series lead, and would finish the Habs off three nights later to reach the Finals
Nov. 9th, 1961
- Brian Epstein sees The Beatles live at the Cavern Club for the first time
- Detroit beats Boston at the Olympia 2-1 (winning goal by Norm Ullman with 54-seconds left); Montreal handles Toronto 5-2 behind a Claude Provost hat-trick (the first of only two in his career).
Jan. 1st, 1962
- The Beatles (John, Paul, George, and Pete) audition for Decca Records in London, and are ultimately unsuccessful
- Stan Mikita scores 1 goal and 1 assist as the Blackhawks shut-out Montreal 2-0 at the Stadium
Nov. 26th, 1962
- The Beatles (with Ringo on drums) record "Please Please Me" at EMI/Abbey Road in London, to be their 1st UK #1 hit early in the new year
- New York smokes Detroit 5-0 at the Olympia, with both Andy Bathgate and Camille Henry having 3-point nights; Chicago smokes Boston 5-0 at the Garden, with Glenn Hall earning the shut-out
March 5th, 1963
- The Beatles record their second UK#1 hit, "From Me To You", at EMI/Abbey Road in London
- Montreal and Detroit face off at the Olympia. The Habs win 4-3, but Gordie Howe scores his 33rd goal. He would finish with 38 goals to lead the NHL and win the scoring title for the final time.
April 18th, 1963
- The Beatles appear at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the first time, playing 4 songs as part of a package appearance. Backstage, Paul McCartney meets Jane Asher, his future fiancee.
- Toronto defeats Detroit 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup.
Nov. 10th, 1963
- Beatles play the Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham, UK
- Gordie Howe scores his 545th goal, in a 3-0 win over Montreal at the Olympia, to become the #1 goal scorer in NHL history (surpassing Maurice Richard).
(On Nov. 22nd, 1963, The Beatles' 2nd album -- With The Beatles -- is released in the UK, just hours before John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas.)
Feb. 9th, 1964
- Beatles play live on the Ed Sullivan show, in New York City, for the first time
- All six NHL teams are in action, but New York's Rangers are on the road, in Detroit, losing 4-2
May 5th, 1966
- George Harrison records guitar-solos for "I'm Only Sleeping" at EMI/Abbey Road (track appears later on Revolver).
- At the Olympia, Montreal beats Detroit 3-2 in overtime (winner: Henri Richard at 2:20) to take the Stanley Cup.
Nov. 9th, 1966
- John Lennon meets Yoko Ono for the first time
- The "over-the-hill" gang Maple Leafs beats the Habs at the Forum, 3-2, with Jim Pappin scoring the game-winner in the third (he had 7 game-winners that year to lead the NHL). Meanwhile, the Bruins tie the Rangers 3-3 at MSG; rookie Bobby Orr has 6 shots on goal and is +2, despite not picking up a point.
Jan. 30th 1969
- The Beatles play live on the Apple Corps. building rooftop at 3 Savile Row in London, for 42 minutes (filmed for the Let It Be film) in the afternoon. It's the last time they'll ever appear in public, live.
- Simultaneously, in North America, Chicago destroys Philadelphia 12-0 at The Spectrum in Philly. Jim Pappin has a hat-trick, Bobby Hull three assists, Dennis Hull 2 goals and 3 assists, and Pit Martin 1 goal and 5 assists (Denis DeJordy the shut-out). For Philly, Lacroix, Gendron, Sarrazin, Van Impe, and Miszuk all go -6 in the game. On the same night, The Bruins are in California to play the Kings, winning 7-5. Glen Sather has maybe the best game of his (modest) NHL career, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists and going +4. Derek Sanderson, however, scores a hat-trick and has 4 points.
(This was the best I could do... a lot of important Beatle-dates don't coincide with the NHL playing schedule!)
